The Millionaire Matchmaker: Adventures in Dating

This season, the matchmaker gets matched

Patti Stanger

Courtesy Bravo TV

Viewers can expect to see a lot of changes on the new season of Bravo’s hit reality show The Millionaire Matchmaker, premiering on Monday August 15. Newly single and ready to mingle, matchmaker Patti Stanger is back in Los Angeles with Chief Operating Officer Destin Pfaff and VP of Matchmaking Rachel Federoff by her side. Guest stars Jenny McCarthy and Tori Spelling will also be stepping in to help some of Stanger’s rich clients, and Patti could not be more relieved to be back in Los Angeles where her help is appreciated.

“Everyone’s beautiful here but no one commits,” Stanger said. “And when girls become beaten up emotionally they’re appreciative, which New York didn’t have. They were the bitterest people I’ve ever seen and they won’t listen to me. LA, they listen to me.” Stanger says New York is just not a suitable environment for finding a husband. Although there are always a select few who get lucky, most women don’t stand a chance.

“Women need to get out of New York City,” Stanger says of the east coast. “There’s five women to one guy and as long as they hold the cards they’re not going to get married. The problem is that men there know they have the power over you - where in LA it’s 50-50.” And if leaving the city is not an option, “Keep your appearance up. Look good, hit the gym, put the lipstick on, get the extensions over your hair - and then be nice to the men,” adding. “They might notice you more than anyone else because you’re sweet, you’re not bitter.” Living by her own words of wisdom, Stanger has definitely boosted her appearance since her breakup. Now that she’s single and dating she’s much skinnier, which she says has made her nicer. And being nicer certainly helps this season when the matchmaker is matched.

“You will see a totally different Patti,” Stanger said. “I’m like, soft, subdued and submissive when I date.” Stanger’s dating personality will be seen on episode 13 when she gets thrown into the mixer process, which she described as the scariest experience of her life. “I like that rugged, kind of Aidan type of personality from Sex and the City,” she said. “I don’t really go for the Mr. Big metro; and there is one rugged guy I pick but he’s totally not for me and you will see what happens. It is disastrous.”

It makes complete sense that Aidan would be the perfect type for Stanger because she says she tends to “date down.” Stanger always asks her clients if they would rather have looks or money. Having never really dated a rich guy, sexual attraction beats money for her every time. “I’m the looks person,” Stanger said. “And the money person is the person who doesn’t care about looks. And there’s a reason I say that because there’s no gray line. Getting looks and money together is really the chupacabra. That’s a hard thing to find.”

Whether you favor looks or money, Stanger recommends her Top 5 Dating Rules:

TMI: “Too much information kills the cat.”

Two drink max: “If you get to a third, a woman—nine times out of 10—is not a man and cannot take that much alcohol so they TMI.”

Let the man lead if you’re a woman. If you’re a man, lead: “Worst thing that could happen is the guy talks at you and brags at you and then you lose interest. And if you over-talk it, if you gab away—he falls asleep. His penis goes limp.”

No sex before monogamy: “Obviously that’s a major rule because oxytocin will kick in. You’ll feel like you’re in love even if he’s a loser.”

If there’s no one there and you’re dating and it’s not working, don’t fret: “He or she is probably right around the corner. It’s usually those down times that you have to get into you, and once you get into you the phone starts ringing.”

No matter what dating laws you choose to abide by, passion should be everyone’s number one priority. Stanger believes her last relationship ended because they both grew complacent and comfortable, losing the ‘je ne sais quoi.’ Whether it’s work, love or health, don’t sell out on your passion. “It doesn’t matter how much money you have. If you’re not happy with it, who cares?” Stanger said. “Same thing with love.”